OPP consider offender management program

Kim Huffman, Norfolk Ward 7 Councillor.

Luke Edwards

Grant Haven Media

When the courts place conditions on a person living in Norfolk, the local OPP detachment will be paying attention.

Staff Sgt. Gene Laarman told members of the Norfolk OPP detachment board at its Jan. 14 meeting of their plans to implement an Offender Management Apprehension Program (OMAP) in the county. The program would see a member of the detachment receive special training to monitor people who have had conditions placed on them by the courts. These could be situations such as when an accused is released from jail to a surety, or someone who has a GPS tracking device.

“These are people who are dealing with the courts on conditions, on bail, maybe there’s outstanding warrants or they have GPS trackers. We’re looking to hold these people accountable,” Laarman said.

The staff sergeant said the program also helps local police with people who may otherwise not even be on their radar, since the program would alert them of people who were put under judicial conditions elsewhere and ended up in Norfolk. He gave the example of an accused in Toronto who was released on a surety, and that surety is the person’s mother, who lives in Norfolk.

“That person may not be on our radar and they’ve shown up and they’re in our community. Well now, with this OMAP system, what we’re hoping to do is identify that person and we as the OPP can check in on them and verify that their conditions are being held,” Laarman said.

Police on Manitoulin Island implemented their own OMAP last spring, and according to a media release issued in July, the program offered some early signs of success. It registered 40 people over that time, and in 36 compliance checks found 72 per cent of people were following their conditions. The program in Manitoulin Island seeks to reduce repeat offending, while also offering services to those who get registered into the program.

“We’re already seeing the difference that the OMAP is making in our community,” Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service Chief Ron Gignac said in the news release. “This isn’t just about keeping track of people. It’s about supporting recovery, building trust, and working together to make our community safer for everyone.”

Coun. Kim Huffman, who is also chair of the OPP detachment board, welcomed the new program, saying there’s a lot of public frustration over things like people breaking the conditions of their bail.

“I think this is a great program in trying to get ahead of the issue,” she said.

Laarman said the plan is still in its early stages, and the detachment is looking for the right person to undertake the necessary training.

Early Resolution Program

Laarman told board members of a second program the local OPP detachment is looking at implementing. 

Early resolution programs allow cases to be resolved outside of court, freeing up valuable resources and time for everyone from police officers to potential witnesses. Laarman said in several cases it can also be a welcome option for the defendant.

“It reduces stress actually for the accused as well so they feel like they can actually solve some of this problem outside of court,” he said.

Laarman said it’s typical to have three to six officers on day shift tied up in court as they await trial. Early resolution could reduce that, allowing them to perform regular police duties in the community.

“And who’s often overlooked is witnesses… you have a witness come up for a POA (Provincial Offences Act) trial, they take a day off work, they’re nervous because they’ve never testified. So now they’re waiting in the body of court waiting for their turn to testify at trial,” he said.

Discussions on implementing the program began just before the holidays.